VETERAN Labour politician Tony Benn has died at home at the age of 88, his family said today.

The former cabinet minister died this morning at his home in west London surrounded by family members.

In a statement his children Stephen, Hilary, Melissa and Joshua said: "It is with great sadness that we announce that our father Tony Benn died peacefully early this morning at his home in west London surrounded by his family.

"We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the NHS staff and carers who have looked after him with such kindness in hospital and at home.

"We will miss above all his love which has sustained us throughout our lives. But we are comforted by the memory of his long, full and inspiring life and so proud of his devotion to helping others as he sought to change the world for the better.

"Arrangements for his funeral will be announced in due course."

Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the Labour veteran on Twitter.

He said: "Tony Benn was a magnificent writer, speaker and campaigner. There was never a dull moment listening to him, even if you disagreed with him."

Labour MPs also took to the social network to pay warm tributes.

Former cabinet minister Peter Hain said: "Tony Benn was a giant of socialism who encouraged me to join Labour in 1977: wonderful inspirational speaker and person: will be deeply missed."

Diane Abbott said: "Admired so many things about Benn: unwavering principles; always open to new ideas; stellar political speaker but unfailingly courteous."

Barry Sheerman, who entered parliament in 1979 and served alongside Mr Benn for many years, said : "Sad news of Tony Benn death. I had my differences with him but he was a "big beast" in our political life and party history."

Lucy Powell, one of the party's newest MPs added: "Very sorry to hear the sad news about Tony Benn. He was a political giant of the last century, principled and passionate."

Tony Benn speaking at the Celebration of the Life of Nelson Mandela last year [Tony Benn]

Tony Benn addresses a protest against the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War [Tony Benn]

He said: "He will be remembered as a champion of the powerless, a great parliamentarian and a conviction politician.

"Tony Benn spoke his mind and spoke up for his values. Whether you agreed with him or disagreed with him, everyone knew where he stood and what he stood for.

"For someone of such strong views, often at odds with his party, he won respect from across the political spectrum.

"This was because of his unshakeable beliefs and his abiding determination that power and the powerful should be held to account.

Tony Benn was known as a great orator [EXPRESS]

The left winger at the 1979 Labour Party Conference in Brighton [Tony Benn]

"He believed in movements and mobilised people behind him for the causes he cared about, often unfashionable ones. In a world of politics that is often too small, he thought big about our country and our world.

"Above all, as I had cause to know, he was an incredibly kind man. I did work experience with him at the age of 16. I may have been just a teenager but he treated me as an equal. It was the nature of the man and the principle of his politics.

"I saw him for the last time a couple of weeks ago in hospital. He may have been ailing in body but was as sharp as ever in mind. As I left he said to me 'Well, old son. Let's have a proper talk when you have more time'.

"As he said of his wife Caroline at her funeral, he showed us how to live and how to die.

"All of my condolences go to his children Stephen, Hilary, Melissa and Joshua and his wider family. In their own ways, they are all a tribute to him as a father, a socialist, and a most decent human being."

The left-winger was born Anthony Wedgwood Benn on April 3, 1925, the second son of William Wedgwood Benn, a Labour Cabinet minister, and the former Margaret Holmes, a scholar in Greek and Hebrew studies. One grandfather was a baronet, and both had been members of Parliament.

But despite his privileged origins, he always wanted to be known purely as Tony Benn.

Although he once claimed in Who's Who to have been educated in "the university of life", he actually attended Westminster School and New College, Oxford.

During the war, Benn served as a pilot with the RAF and Fleet Air Arm, being awarded the DSO and the DFC.

He joined the Labour Party in 1943 and entered the Commons as MP for Bristol South East in 1950.

Benn remained active throughout the 1950s, and before the end of the decade he was already an active member of the national executive and the shadow cabinet.

But the death of his father, Viscount Stansgate, in 1960, forced him to quit the Commons as he automatically inherited the title.

Benn was well known for being a pipe smoker [Tony Benn]

He fought and won the subsequent by-election having declared that he disclaimed the viscountcy, but was physically barred from entering the Commons and the Tory runner-up was awarded the seat.

It took him three gruelling years in the political wilderness to secure an Act of Parliament to make a disclaimer legally enforceable.

The Tory MP for Bristol South East stepped down as promised, and Benn was re-elected.

When Labour returned to power after 13 years in opposition, he became postmaster general in 1964 and launched GIRO a year later.

In 1974 he became industry secretary but was demoted to energy secretary by Prime Minister Harold Wilson – with whom he often clashed.

In 1981, Benn was narrowly beaten by Denis Healey for the deputy leadership and in 1983, he lost his seat after a carve-up of the constituencies in Bristol.

A year later, with the resignation of Eric Varley from the Commons, Benn was returned as MP for Chesterfield.

In 1988 he launched another unsuccessful attempt at party leadership.

Benn retired from the House of Commons in May 2001, after 51 years in Parliament, to "devote more time to politics". By then he was the longest serving Labour MP in the history of the party.

He collapsed at the Labour Party conference in Brighton in September, 2005, but after spending two nights in hospital he was fitted with a pacemaker and quickly resumed his political activities.

He is survived by four children. His beloved wife Caroline, who supported him throughout his tempestuous political career died late in the year 2000, after fighting a brave battle against cancer.

Benn was hugely proud of his son Hilary - by no means a Bennite - who became Labour MP for Leeds Central in 1999. There were tears in the eyes of Tony Benn when, as one of his sponsors, he accompanied his son into the chamber for the first time to take the Oath.

Hilary Benn later was to join the cabinet as secretary of state for international development, and later became environment secretary.